Fishless Cycle - Results So Far

Here are some of the new pics I mentioned earlier. Tomorrow I may go and buy some more low light easy to look after plants off the list in the planted section to fill up the left side of the tank a little! Opinions (either way) appreciated! :D

PICT0398.jpg


PICT0400.jpg


PICT0401.jpg
 
O,excellent! Some really nice changes! The top picture makes it easy to see the whole layout. You've particularly improved the rock layout. By moving the big dark one to the right, you've exposed the lighter horizontal ones behind it. Then you have the small very light colored one especially well placed and tilted in the foreground.

The natural layering of different plants on the left side is especially good, working from small back and up to larger. The 3 largest plants though, to my eye, are ending up matched in total height, which again seems to create a symetrical effect that by being too balanced, seems unnatural. Also, the handsome dark green plant emerging from the top of the dark rock attracts the eye in a strong way, thus competing with the lovely build-up of layers on the left side.

What would be interesting to see you try would be something like moving the big dark rock to the left and letting the small layers, including the red be forground in front of the dark rock, letting parts of the dark rock come out here and there. Then the layering could build up and peak with the top plant, making it seem part of the climb, rather than suddenly jutting out.

(don't know why I'm getting in to this so much! just my opinions anyway..)

Oh well, more later maybe! Know you are having fun, you have such nice stuff to work with! ~~waterdrop~~
 
O,excellent! Some really nice changes! The top picture makes it easy to see the whole layout. You've particularly improved the rock layout. By moving the big dark one to the right, you've exposed the lighter horizontal ones behind it. Then you have the small very light colored one especially well placed and tilted in the foreground.

The natural layering of different plants on the left side is especially good, working from small back and up to larger. The 3 largest plants though, to my eye, are ending up matched in total height, which again seems to create a symetrical effect that by being too balanced, seems unnatural. Also, the handsome dark green plant emerging from the top of the dark rock attracts the eye in a strong way, thus competing with the lovely build-up of layers on the left side.

What would be interesting to see you try would be something like moving the big dark rock to the left and letting the small layers, including the red be forground in front of the dark rock, letting parts of the dark rock come out here and there. Then the layering could build up and peak with the top plant, making it seem part of the climb, rather than suddenly jutting out.

(don't know why I'm getting in to this so much! just my opinions anyway..)

Oh well, more later maybe! Know you are having fun, you have such nice stuff to work with! ~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for all the input. The dark rock is actually a substantial piece of bog wood with some natural holes running right through it althought youy can see them as the run from the top to the back of the peice. The plant on the Bog wood is Java Fern attached with cotton until it takes hold. As for the 3 plants being the same height I see what you mean but they are all growing. The Vallisneria Gigantea (tall plant on the left) has already grown around 2 inches in the last week or so, I need to sort out my filter return though as its going directly towards the Vallisneria Gigantea and they dont seeem to like fast water.
 
(hey, you could have at least photoshopped in some red on the hair..)


lol

haven't got photoshop, my hairs not all that red at the moment anyway sadly. need to get to the hairdressers but i've not had a chance. hopefully booking in for Thursday night though.

Miss Poppins has my natural hair colour!
 
O,excellent! Some really nice changes! The top picture makes it easy to see the whole layout. You've particularly improved the rock layout. By moving the big dark one to the right, you've exposed the lighter horizontal ones behind it. Then you have the small very light colored one especially well placed and tilted in the foreground.

The natural layering of different plants on the left side is especially good, working from small back and up to larger. The 3 largest plants though, to my eye, are ending up matched in total height, which again seems to create a symetrical effect that by being too balanced, seems unnatural. Also, the handsome dark green plant emerging from the top of the dark rock attracts the eye in a strong way, thus competing with the lovely build-up of layers on the left side.

What would be interesting to see you try would be something like moving the big dark rock to the left and letting the small layers, including the red be forground in front of the dark rock, letting parts of the dark rock come out here and there. Then the layering could build up and peak with the top plant, making it seem part of the climb, rather than suddenly jutting out.

(don't know why I'm getting in to this so much! just my opinions anyway..)

Oh well, more later maybe! Know you are having fun, you have such nice stuff to work with! ~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for all the input. The dark rock is actually a substantial piece of bog wood with some natural holes running right through it althought youy can see them as the run from the top to the back of the peice. The plant on the Bog wood is Java Fern attached with cotton until it takes hold. As for the 3 plants being the same height I see what you mean but they are all growing. The Vallisneria Gigantea (tall plant on the left) has already grown around 2 inches in the last week or so, I need to sort out my filter return though as its going directly towards the Vallisneria Gigantea and they dont seeem to like fast water.
Sorry for not noticing in the pic it was bogwood. I was extremely rushed yesterday.

One landscaping principle that is working well for you so far is that of "using odd numbers." Its an old landscaper's tip that I've read. Say you have a stretch of house and are going to edge with small bushes - along that stretch you would not want to put an even number of the same bush, or similar height/shape bushes - the tip says you should always us an odd number as even numbers will be interpreted by the eye as a "line" and any straight line will be less interesting in a landscape you are attempting to make more natural.
 
well im on day 15 and my ammonia is converting in under 12 hours and nitrite is off the scale... quicker than my last cycle i think so im pleased so far
 
Day 14 (Saturday 26th April)

Tested Ammonia at 10.20am
Ammonia: 1.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: Did not test

I raised Ammonia back to 4.00ppm

Tested Ammonia at 6.00pm
Ammonia: 2.00ppm - :D its starting to move within 1 day now!
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: 7.2
 
Today I also added some Green Cabomba, Java Moss and another plants whos name escapes me at present! The Vallisneria Gigantea seems to be growing well (another inch or so in the last 24 hours) and the Egeria densa is also growing well with minimal spacing between each new part of the plant.

moving down within the day -- really good sign stormy - glad its progressing for you!

~~waterdrop~~

Cheers! Fingers crossed it keeps progressing.
 
It will be interesting to see how you get on with the Cabomba, I had loads of it in my tank and all it did was slowly disintegrate, mainly due to the fishes nibbling at it, some fish just seem to love it.
 
It will be interesting to see how you get on with the Cabomba, I had loads of it in my tank and all it did was slowly disintegrate, mainly due to the fishes nibbling at it, some fish just seem to love it.

I will let you know once the fish go in :)

Day 15 (Sunday 27th April)

Tested Ammonia at 8.20am
Ammonia: 1.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: 7.2

I raised Ammonia back to 2.00ppm too see it will process to 0 today.

Tested Ammonia at 7.20pm
Ammonia: 1.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: Did not test
 
Day 16 (Monday 28th April)

Tested Ammonia at 8.20am
Ammonia: Between 0.50 ppm & 1.00ppm
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: 7.2

Tested Ammonia at 6.30pm
Ammonia: 0.00ppm :D
NitrIte: 0.50ppm
PH: 7.2

I have raised Ammonia back to 2.00ppm and it looks like ammonia is processing in around 36 hours now!
 
certainly looks like you're making good progress :good:
 

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